Acts 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Paul was being judged for his actions that had resulted in a riot the day before in Jerusalem. Even though Paul had done nothing wrong, his presence had caused a tumult.

Paul looked at the group of religious leaders and he saw Sadducees and Pharisees. The Sadducees held more to the law of Moses while the Pharisees not only followed the law of Moses, but they were the defenders of the oral law, or the traditions that had arisen over the years as man had interpreted the law of Moses.

Because of the traditions that the Pharisees had so often tried to enforce, when Christ was here on this earth, he often rebuked them. On many occasions, Jesus was attacking the Pharisees because of their traditions and their attitudes. While Jesus did attack the Sadducees, HE did not do it nearly as often as he did the Pharisees. Most likely this was because they were not as engrossed in all the Jewish traditions that were created by man.

While the Pharisees seemed to be much more liberal in their religion then the Sadducees, there was one doctrine that the Pharisees followed that the Sadducees did not. The Pharisees believed that after a Jew died, he would be resurrected and that there would be an afterlife. The Sadducees on the other hand did not believe in a resurrection and instead believed, that once a man died, he was dead forever. The Sadducees did not even believe in angels.

Paul was no longer a Pharisee in that he had abandoned that life when God had reached out and touched him. However, Paul had an opportunity to help the religious leaders understand the truth that he was preaching. The Pharisees believed that there was life after death just like the New Testament Christians believed. While the Christians did not believe in all the traditions that the Pharisees taught, there was one common doctrine that they could agree on.

Paul took the common doctrine of resurrection and he used that to open a door for them to be more receptive to his message. The Pharisees had no desire to hear Paul because they were so focused upon how Paul dealt with the Gentiles that they wanted nothing to do with Paul. Now that they understood how they were somewhat similar, they were more willing to hear out Paul which opened the door for some of them to be converted.

We need to understand that there are many people out there who do not believe in the truths of the scripture. However, if you are patient and if you take the time to learn a little bit more about your audience, you will probably find something that they believe in that can open the door for you sharing Christ with them. We must learn that we are to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves. This means that we should see what doors God wants to open and then follow them so that God can use our words to reach others.

There are many who have been persuaded by false prophets and false religions. A false religion often takes some truth and distorts it to create a new doctrine. We must learn to love these individuals who have been led astray and be patient with them so that one day, when God gives us the chance, God can use our words to open their eyes and their ears to HIS truth. Wait on the Lord’s timing and you will soon see conversions that you never thought possible.

Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Jesus was warning the multitudes about the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus warned how the religious rulers were quick to lay heavy burdens upon the people but were unwilling to lift a finger to the same burden. The religious rulers made appearances to their righteousness by the wearing of phylacteries and the display of fringes upon their garments. These men were willing to appear like they were doing the which was right in the eyes of God, but in reality, everything they were doing was simply to receive the praises of men.

Phylacteries were like a small scroll that the religious rulers would wear so as to keep portions of the law of God near to them. However, what most likely started out as one individuals attempt to keep the law of God had become a status symbol for the religious leaders, the larger the scroll the more prestigious the individual. Rather than actually allow the law to change their hearts, Jesus warns that the religious leaders were simply attempting to earn the praises of man and not live their lives for the glory of God.

Before you say that you would never do something as weird as wear portions of the bible around your body to show your righteousness to others, think about how people follow this same principal today. There are those who hang scripture verses up in their office and in their home, yet they are simply giving lip service to God. There are those who wear clothing that sites scripture verses yet they do not understand the true meaning of the verse. There are those who appear to give glory to God on the television after they have accomplished some goal yet for some it is simply a way to portray a good guy image.

The religious leaders wanted the people to recognize them for their spirituality but they did not want to commit their lives to having a personal relationship with God. The same problem that Jesus was seeing in the religious leaders during HIS time on earth can be seen in Christians around the world today. Many Christians are more concerned about their image than they are about having their heart and mind right before God. They are willing to talk the talk but they are unwilling to walk the walk. The world sees that Christians are really nothing but a bunch of show and they want no part of Christianity.

You are commanded to be the light to the world. This does not mean that you go out and purchase every Christian symbol and plaster it around your life so that those around you know that you are a Christian. In order to be the light you must transform your life. You should be more concerned about your inward relationship with God than the outward appearance. When God has your life, the world will see that you are different and you will be more affective for spreading the light of God than a thousand John 3:16 signs.

You can pretend to be religious all you want but what does Christ say about you? If Christ were to speak with those around you today, would HE tell them to beware of your self-righteous proclamations because you only do those things to give the appearance that you are righteous? If you desire to do great things for God, then you must take the time to concentrate on filling your heart and mind with the things of God. Add virtue to your life so that your relationship with God is more important to you than the praises of man.

Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

The scribes and Pharisees had seen Jesus’ miracles, they had heard HIS’ teaching and they had seen HIS’ sinless life. The scribes and Pharisees understood the scriptures and of all people, they should have been the ones to recognize that Jesus was their Messiah. When the wise men came to Herod and asked him where the king of the Jews was to be born, the scribes and the priests told him in Bethlehem. Yet regardless of all their knowledge and observations, they still were not convinced that Jesus was the One.

The scribes and the Pharisees were so caught up in themselves that they refused to acknowledge the truth that was before them. What sign could Jesus have given them that would have satisfied their doubt’ Jesus had already been performing great miracles all over the country. Jesus already had a star proclaim his birth. Jesus was in the process of fulfilling all the prophecies that foretold of HIS coming.

The scribes and the Pharisees were seeking for a sign because they had hardened their hearts to the truth. They were not seeking a sign to reveal the truth to them but were seeking a sign so as to justify their unbelief. If Jesus gave them a sign, he would be justifying their unbelief in all the other signs that they had seen. The scribes and Pharisees did not need a new sign, they needed to change their life based upon the information that they had already received.

How often are you like the scribes and the Pharisees? You know what God desires you to do next but you refuse to follow HIS instruction because you are asking God to show you another sign. What you are doing is trying to follow God on your own conditions. When you are asking for signs, you are conditioning your obedience upon God removing certain obstacles in your life before you obey.

Asking God for a sign is not always wrong. Gideon asked for signs before he obeyed God and he still made it into God’s hall of faith. The difference between Gideon and the scribes and Pharisees was that Gideon did not base his signs upon the thing that God asked him to do. Gideon’s signs were all unrelated things. The fleeces had nothing to do with him going to battle. The scribes and Pharisees sign on the other hand was a request that Jesus once again do something to show that he was Lord when the whole purpose of their faith is to believe those things that God had already revealed to them.

You do not have room in your life to start questioning God’s direction. Rather than justifying your unbelief, you need to start living your life in such a way that God can demonstrate HIS power and glory through you. As long as you are constantly seeking signs in order to obey God, then you will never be in a position to obey.

If you desire to have great faith, then you must take the time to fill your heart and mind with the things of God. By adding virtue to your life, you will enable yourself to remove many of the distractions of the world and thus clear your mind to more clearly hear the still small voice of God. Virtue leaves no room for doubt because it is doubt that is often asking for conditions to be removed so that you can obey.

Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Jesus was eating and during the meal, many publicans and sinners came and sat down in the house with Jesus. This upset the Pharisees and they asked the disciples why Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus’ reply was simple, the publicans and sinners recognized that they were spiritually sick and thus they desired to see the One who could heal them. However, the Pharisees were so righteous in their own eyes, they did not see that they were spiritually sick and thus they did not see the significance of who Jesus really was.

The Pharisees had the same need for a Savior that the publicans did, they just did not see their need. As long as they did not see their need, they were not looking for the solution that Jesus was offering. Because they did not see Jesus’ solution, they never did fully understand the importance of Jesus’ ministry here on this earth. When Jesus was developing a closer relationship with the publicans so as to show them that HE was the way, the truth and the light, the Pharisees judged Jesus thinking HE was allowing HIMSELF to tarnish HIS reputation by associating with known sinners.

The Pharisees are an excellent example of Christ’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount where Christ said “why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” The Pharisees were quick to pass judgment upon others but they had failed to examine their own heart and see their own need to be saved from their sins.

The publicans and sinners understood that they had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. They were willing to humble themselves and pursue the things of God. They saw their need and understood that they needed to develop a closer relationship with Jesus so that they might be freed from their iniquity.

Are you a Pharisee or are you a publican? Both have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. One recognizes their sin and is willing to be humble and seek a solution for the problem while the other refuses to recognize their sin and judges any who do humble themselves. It is so easy to be caught up in your own righteousness. You see all the good things that you have done and you try to impose your love for yourself as God’s love for you. You allow yourself to cover your own iniquities with your own self-righteousness.

Nonetheless, you must understand that your own self-righteousness is as a filthy rag. Your self-righteousness can never cover a single sin. Instead, you need to transform your mind and put on the righteousness of Christ. Rather than compare yourself with those around you, you must compare yourself with the perfect life of Christ and understand that you have fallen short of God’s glory.

Until you are willing to change your perspective and see yourself as Christ sees you, you will never be ready to seek forgiveness for your sins. When you add virtue to your life, you rid your life of your own standards and instead measure your life according to God’s standards. The more virtue you add to your life, the more you will be able to see how spiritually sick you are and how important it is to have a close relationship with God.

Acts 23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, ad strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Paul was on trial before the high priest and the council in Jerusalem. Paul told the council that he was a Pharisee and that the reason everyone was gathered that day was because he believed in the hope of the resurrection of the dead. Because of this statement made by Paul, it caused the Pharisees to side with him while the Sadducees continued to oppose Paul. The Pharisees now were willing to defend Paul and even went so far to say that continuing this trial would be the same as fighting against God.

Most likely, the Pharisees remembered when Gamaliel, a Pharisee reminded them during the trial of Peter and the apostles that if the work of these men were not of God, then it would die out on its own, but if the work was of God, then they were told that they “cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” Acts 5:39.

The Pharisees evidently took to heart the words of Gamaliel and they started to allow God to have more control over judgment. Rather then stand up and judge whether a man was serving God or not, they were allowing God to take care of the problem. The last thing they wanted to have on their consciences as servants of God was that they possibly were working against God by punishing those who were actually serving God.

While the Pharisees were not necessarily the most God fearing leaders, they had learned an important principle that you would do well to learn. How many times have you seen an individual who has received a calling from God to do something only to be talked out of following the Lord because those around him discuss how illogical the request was?

You remember Christ’s command that whoever caused a little one to stumble that it would be best for that individual if a millstone were placed around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. The Bible is full of commands that you are not to do anything to cause your brother to stumble. Yet how often do you do that very thing because you try to impose logic into a spiritual discussion? You should learn the lesson that the Pharisees learned. Do not be quick to judge someone else� spirituality or someone else’s calling. Jesus said “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:2.

God has not placed you in this earth to be a judge as to what God has told others to do. You have enough difficultly as it is to ensure that you yourself are following God’s calling for your life. Rather then follow your natural tendencies to judge other believers, follow the Pharisees approach and allow God to be God.

When you start fighting against God, virtue is not in your life. You cannot maintain just thoughts in your mind if you are attacking those who are attempting to pursue God’s perfect will. There is a time and a place to correct a brother who has strayed from God’s will, but you must first make sure that your heart and mind are right before God and that you are not fighting against God causing more damage then good because you interpose your own human reasoning into a spiritual discussion.

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

You are not saved by the law but by faith. While you are commanded to do good works, your good works will not save you. You can obey every law in the Bible but until you take a step of faith, you will not be innocent of your sins.

During the time of Jesus, the Pharisees and the Sadducees sought to be justified by the law. They obey their laws down to the last detailed. However, they were not any closer to God because of it. Yes, they received the praises of men. Nonetheless, they did not recognize Jesus for who HE really was and they crucified the One who they had been waiting for.

Because the Pharisees and Sadducees were so focused on the law and not on listening to the words of Christ, they missed the whole message. If you remain so focused upon the law, you will miss the opportunity to live by faith. Instead of focusing your attention upon being legalistic, you need to focus your attention on listening to the Holy Spirit. You will miss many blessings that could have been yours if you had just been willing to stop and seek God.

When Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha, Martha was so busy trying to please Jesus by how good of a host she could be that she failed to hear the words of the Master. Martha desired to please Jesus, but she was doing it in the wrong way. She was trying to please HIM by doing what she could do. What Jesus desired that Martha do was stop, sit down and listen to HIM speak. Until you hear the voice of God, you will never be able to live by faith.

We like to be in control. We like to determine what we do next. Living by faith does not allow us to be in control of our own life. Living by faith requires that we spend time being patient listening to HIM. Living by faith is similar to a horse and his master out for a ride. The horse may desire to be finished and go back to the barn for feeding. The horse probably is comfortable in its routine. However, what happens if the master changes the routine. What if after finishing the normal lap the master guides the horse down a new trail? Will the horse be attentive to its master’s signals and go to a new destination, or will it balk and demand that the master stay within the horse’s comfort level?

Living by faith is how you are commanded to live your life. You are not commanded to live by the law but by faith. Granted, both living by faith and living by the law require obedience. However, living by the law allows you to make the law and your works the most important thing. You receive the credit when you obey the law. However, when you live by faith, God is the one who receives the glory.

You cannot afford to become legalistic. If you focus your attention upon the law, your law will become more important to you then people. It is not your obedience to your laws that will make you righteous. It is not your diligent observance to your doctrine that will make you innocent. It is your ability to listen to the voice of God and to do what HE has said. It is when you take that step of faith that enables you to live a life pleasing to God.

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, and mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Jesus is condemning the scribes and the Pharisees because they obsessed over ensuring that everything that came into their possession was tithed upon that they failed to fulfill other portions of the law including judgment, mercy and faith. Jesus taught that if one breaks the law in one point, he is guilty of breaking the whole law. You cannot be pardon from one sin just because you have mastered one area of the law. God expects and demands from you that you keep the whole law. This means you cannot pick and choose which laws you will obey and which laws are not applicable to you.

Could you imagine if a web page designer decided that one particular code was the most important code and that he was going to incorporate that code in everything he did at the expense of following the program code for everything else. The odds are, if someone visited his web site it would not be very pleasant to the eye and it would not be practical regardless of the content. If a trained web site designer were to look at the source code behind the web site, he would immediately recognize that this individual understood that one particular rule, but it would be obvious that this person was not qualified to design web pages or even teach others how to design web pages because the person not only failed to obey all of the code, but failed to implement the code in his own life.

Judgment, mercy and faith are to be a part of our everyday Christian life. This means that we must incorporate them into our life and live them so God can use us to work with others. If we do not have them apart of our life, how can we expect to be used by God to teach others any aspect of the goodness of God? This does not mean that you are perfect. God knows that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Just because a web designer makes one mistake on code, does not preclude him from ever teaching others how to design a web page. However, hopefully the web designer learned from his mistake and will use that humbling experience to enable him to be a better teacher. However, if the web designer has not learned from his mistake, and continues to make the same mistake, why would you want to learn from such an individual?

Jesus tells us that faith is a weightier matter of the law. It is an important part of our daily walk with the Lord. One cannot focus solely on faith at the expense of everything else in the law, but one should definitely not be like the scribes and Pharisees who ignored it all together. We know that faith is simple obedience to God. Faith is believing what God has promised will come true regardless of the storms that seem to surround us. Faith is keeping your focus fixed upon God and not allowing your trials to worry you.

God desires obedience to HIS entire law, not just parts. This means, faith is to be an active part of your life. God expects you to exercise faith in your life so that HE might be glorified and so that HE might use you to spread HIS light to the world that needs a Savior. The scribes and Pharisees desired to be teachers of the law of God, but because they failed to incorporate the entire law into their life, they were condemned. So too will you be condemned by the Lord if you try to teach others the law and you have failed to obey the law by incorporating into your life the basic commandment of faith.

Matthew 16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Jesus was warning the disciples about the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. However, the disciples were so concerned about the lack of bread that they were not really listening to Jesus. Jesus was trying to speak with HIS disciples, yet because they allowed fear and doubt to cloud their thought process, they were not able to hear Jesus.

Jesus told the disciples that they had little faith for two reasons. First, HE had taught them in the Sermon on the Mount that they should not worry about their provision. Second, HE had demonstrated to them twice HIS ability to take care of their substance. Now because they were worrying about food rather then listening to Jesus, they failed to hear the important lesson Jesus had for them.

Imagine a little boy going to Sunday School class one day and learning about children in Africa who do not eat regularly because of the lack of food. Now that boy comes home and he begins to worry about whether he will have breakfast tomorrow. It does not matter that he has never gone without breakfast before. The boy’s father to no avail tries to tell him to stop worrying, that breakfast will be provided. The father tries to tell his son about an opportunity for the son to earn a little money to give to the missionary who is coming to church next week who ministers to starving children in Africa. However, the boy is so concerned about breakfast that he cannot think about other’s needs.

When we worry about those things that God has told us not to worry about, we become distracted and we are not able to hear those things that God is trying to tell us. Worry not only kills our faith, but it also causes us to not hear the voice of the Lord clearly during the time that we most need HIM. When you have a need that is big enough that you are concerned about how it is going to be satisfied, this is when you must be listening to the Lord. The bigger the problem, the closer to God you need to be.

It is at this time that you cannot afford to have your ears plugged by doubts of the devil. This is especially true when this is a trial that you have faced before, and you have seen the Lord’s provision. When you have seen the Lord’s provision, it is a good time to sit back and wait and see just how the Lord is going to provide. While you wait for the Lord, concentrate your attention upon what HE is telling you to do.

Do not be like the disciples who allowed worry to control their lives. Instead, we need to take our concerns for our needs and use them as an opportunity to cast all of cares upon HIM. We need to learn to draw near to God during our time of need, since it is during our time of need that God desires to speak to us important truths regarding our direction.

Problems will often arise in our lives that are designed to draw us closer to God so that we hear HIS voice and are drawn closer to HIM. God uses these times of trials to impart important truths into us. However, if we allow worry to plug up our ears, we not only fail to hear God�s voice, but it clouds our ability to trust God to provide for our needs. If you desire faith, then you must trust in the Lord that HE is faithful and true to give you that which HE has promised to give you.